Sermon Tone Analysis

Main Idea: God desires for us to live in such a way that we experience persecution.

Key Question: How do you view persecution?

Righteousness sake!! – not because of our own foolishness, selfish ambition, or preferences

1. Be ready for negative reactions.

(v.

10-11)

a.

There will be reactions of hate.

(v.

11)

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

If you were of the world, the world would love its own.

Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’

If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.

If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

b.

There will be reactions of harassment.

(v.

11)

The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.

“Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults.

c.

There will be reactions of false accusations.

(v.

11)

ii.

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

(they are attacking HIM)

2. Be ready with positive responses.

(v. 10, 12)

a. Respond with joy.

(v.

10. 12)

i. Now! (joy will be easy later in Heaven)

ii.

b.

Respond to the encouragement.

(v. 10, 12)

i. Be encouraged by the great reward.

(v. 10, 12)

Hebrew 13:14

1. Hebrew 13:14

for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

ii.

Be encourage by the great company.

(v.

12)

1.

You are not the only one that is, has or will go through this.

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!

You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?

And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus.

For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,